Sure, we've all got beers that define our personalities, but how can you really know who you are unless you explore more options? Beer fests are like college for drinking (well, college is college for drinking too), places where you can experiment with your tongue while meeting drinkers from all over the world. Like good college counselors, we've narrowed down the massive lists of US beer fests to help you expand your knowledge. And your waistline.

You may think this is one of those newfangled weed-pairing events, but this isn’t Colorado. Every year, Asheville throws together two things it has (legally) mastered: banjo-filled bluegrass and craft pints. Over the fest's 17yrs, musicians like Yonder Mountain String Band, the Carolina Chocolate Drops, and the Infamous String Dusters have taken the stage while nationally known breweries, like Stone, pour alongside local guys like Altamont Brewing Co. and Hi-Wire Brewing.